Oh man, where do I even start with this racing stuff? You know, Juan Pablo Montoya—yeah, that guy who won a bunch of Grands Prix—he’s out here saying that Liam Lawson might get the boot from Racing Bulls. Right in the middle of the season. Ouch, right? He’s already been bumped down once this year, so it’s kinda like getting kicked when you’re already down. And Montoya’s just like, “Wouldn’t be shocked if Lawson had to pack it up.” Like, not even a little bit.
There’s this chatter that Racing Bulls could throw Arvid Lindblad in there if Lawson doesn’t get his act together. I guess this other dude, Isack Hadjar, might be his partner, which sounds like some kind of buddy cop show waiting to happen. Anyway, Lawson got swapped for Yuki Tsunoda after bombing in two races. Seriously, that must sting, right? They’re keeping a hawk’s eye on this 23-year-old guy who’s being shown up by the newbie—ouch again.
Montoya didn’t pull any punches about it: “Liam better shape up or it’s curtains,” more or less. He had his big moment when they gave him a shot with Red Bull, and apparently, he nailed it back then. But, boy, the drama! The Red Bull gig was such a roller coaster that it messed with his head. They say it was like a punch to the liver. Yeah, you heard right. The liver! So now he’s got this psychological mountain to climb or something.
Now switch gears. We’re talking Red Bull juniors and that teen prodigy, Lindblad. At just 17, he’s already ticked off the FIA super licence box. How’s that for early achievers? But the calendar says he’s not hitting 18 till August, so who knows if they’ll make an exception for him.
And then there’s Ayumu Iwasa waiting in the wings too. It’s like a crowded party but with race cars instead of punch bowls. Montoya compares this whole kerfuffle to the Alpine antics in Enstone, where Franco Colapinto is on a bit of a trial run for Jack Doohan’s seat. Like a high-stakes game of musical chairs, but you’re just sitting in a turbo-charged beast instead of a folding chair.
Montoya’s laying it out—if Lawson doesn’t buck up, Red Bull’s gonna switch it up. That’s just their style, apparently. He says it’s like what’s brewing with Alpine: one slip-up and bam, you’re benched. This whole racing world really keeps you on your toes, doesn’t it?
